Events

Pilgrim Challenge 2018

3rd-4th February 2018, Sands

66 miles, 2 days

Pilgrim Challenge (3rd-4th February): a two-day, 66-mile ultra marathon over the legendary North Downs Way

Run, jog or walk your way across the impressive North Downs Way - firmly established as one of our most popular events. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury as you pass through stunning landscapes steeped in history.

The race soaks up ancient countryside, picturesque villages and areas of outstanding natural beauty. As with all of our events, everything is taken care of at the Pilgrim Challenge so you can focus on the experience! Overnight accommodation, evening meals, showers, breakfast, food and drink at checkpoints, free parking, and even inspiring guest speakers in the evenings are all included.

Detailed information about all elements of the Pilgrim Challenge can be found in our event instructions.

Entries

You can enter the whole weekend event including food and accommodation, or individual days.

Entries will close one week before the event (or when full). A waitlist option will be available if the event becomes fully booked.

Pricing options

Early bird - £145 before 18th February 2017
Standard entry - £150, from 29th May 2017Late entry - £155, from 2nd January 2018

Full event without acommodation or food - £116
Single day - £58
Optional accommodation and food for single day competitors - £30 per night

Please note: a 3.6% service charge, levied by the registration software, will be added to your total.

Start / Finish

Registration will be open from 06:30 on Saturday at Sandy Farm Business Park, Sands Road, The Sands, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 1PX.

Route

​The North Downs National Trail has excellent markings in the form of signposts or post discs. In addition, you will be given a route card and map, designed to help on any tricky sections. We recommend familiarising yourself with the route before the start of the race - for more information download our full race instructions.

Overnight accommodation

You'll stay at Warwick School, Noke Dr, Redhill RH1 4AD, with sleeping accommodation in a large hall and gym. There is a dedicated rest area, showers and dining area. It's worth noting that accommodation is limited - however if you'd like to enter this event for either one or two days, you can do so at the non-accomodation included price. Check out the following accomodation options for the Saturday overnight:

Travelodge, Redhill (0.3 miles from finish) - from £33 per room
Premier Inn (2.8 miles from finish) - from £36 per room

We will give you a lift there and back (restricted to the above hotels).

Aid stations

There will be four checkpoints each day, fully stocked with water, and sweet and savoury food to keep you fuelled.

Medical

The event is supported by a Course Manager and a fully qualified medical crew will be in attendance. We strongly recommend taking a moment to read our medical page before booking.

Kit

The only compulsory kit is a fully charged mobile phone and a minimum 500ml of water, but it's worth taking a look at our recommended kit list.

Other equipment may be made compulsory by the race director depending on the weather.

Getting to and from the event

By train

Trains run from London Waterloo to Farnham roughly every half an hour from 05:00. We'll be running minibus shuttles to the start on day one, with the last pick up from Farnham Station at 09:00. Let us know your train travel plans when you book.

For the return journey, trains run from Redhill to London Waterloo every half hour.

By road

Farnham is on the A31, A331 from Junction 4 of the M3. Redhill is on the A25, A271 and A25 from Junction 8 of the M25.

What people think about our events...

Thanks everyone - it was great to meet you all - very inspiring and a lot of fun.
Very best of luck to Neil and Rich in the Yukon, looking forward to hearing all about it.
See you all at Pony XP I hope, running if calf has healed or on the checkpoints if I'm still in the pool/bike!
Laura x

Thanks for such a great event... Was a super experience for my first ultra attempt and now I'm hooked. See you soon I'm sure.

Rob

Firstly thank you very much for organising the Pilgrims at the weekend. My first ultra and what a great experience. All the comments I had read about your previous events were true, very well organised and extremely friendly. I also understand I won a trophy for V50 on the second day so my apologies for not being there at the prize giving but I hadn't even considered the possibility that I might have won anything, that was another first for me!
Harry Adair